Simulator for ship navigation

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device for simulating navigation at sea. It is intended for mounting above the bridge of a supposedly moving observer ship and serves for the projection, on a cylindrical screen, of images of movable ships or of coastlines. The device comprises as many superimposed concentric plates as there are ships under observation. Each plate rotates as a function of the bearing of the ship being observed with respect to the observer ship. Each plate carries a projector having a focal line objective which can be adjusted in relation to the distance that separates the observer ship and the sighted ship. Each plate further carries, associated with the projector, a particular device for displacing a number of transparent slides successively fed into the projector, the succession being carried out in relation to the inclinations of the ship being sighted with respect to the observer ship. Each transparent slide illustrates the ship being sighted in one of a number of successive positions of the said ship when the latter makes a complete turn about its own axis.

United States Patent [1 Hervieu SIMULATOR FOR SHIP NAVIGATION [76] Inventor: Rene Hervieu, 20, rue du Calvaire,

44000 Nantes, France [22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 351,470

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 21, 1972 France 72.14754 [52] US. Cl. 35/l0.2, 353/12 [5 1] Int. Cl. (10% 9/06 [58] Field of Search 35/10.2; 88/15; 73/178, 73/181; 340/373; 353/11, 12, 13, 35

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 960,519 6/1910 Dutton 353/35 2,679,033 5/1954 Hartman 35/10.2

2,942,355 6/1960 May et a1 35/lO.2 3,209,645 10/1965 Guttmann 353/35 3,359,408 12/1967 Briggs 353/12 3,580,978 5/1971 Ebeling 35/l0.2 3,584,397 6/1971. Woodcock 35/l0.2 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,200,442 7/1970 Great Britain 35/l0.2

Primary ExaminerMalcolm A. Morrison Assistant ExaminerErrol A. Krass Attorney, Agent, or FirmRaymond A. Robic [5 7 ABSTRACT The invention relates to a device for simulating navigation at sea. It is intended for mounting above the bridge of a supposedly moving observer ship and serves for the projection, on a cylindrical screen, of images of movable ships or of coastlines. The device comprises as many superimposed concentric plates as there are ships under observation. Each plate rotates as a function of the bearing of the ship being observed with respect to the observer ship. Each plate carries a projector having a focal line objective which can be adjusted in relation to the distance that separates the observer ship and the sighted ship. E ach plate further carries, associated with the projector, a particular device for displacing a number of transparent slides successively fed into the projector, the succession being carried out in relation to the inclinations of the ship being sighted with respect to the observer ship. Each transparent slide illustrates the ship being sighted in one of a number of successive positions of the said ship when the latter makes a complete turn about its own axis.

12 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PATENIEMIW sum I 8.845571 I sum 10? a 1 SIMULATOR FOR SHIP NAVIGATION The present invention relates to a navigation simulator. More particularly, it. relates to an apparatus reproducing the sight, on a cylindrical screen, of moving floating devices or coastlines. This sight, at the level of an observer and on a circular view covering 360, is the same as that seen from the bridge of a supposedly moving ship.

It is well known to reproduce, by television camera and screens, the relative movements of movable ship models on a table representing the'sea. The model animation room and the optical retransmission device flush with this table are cumbersome. This solution gives very vague semblances of movement, at the level of the horizon or close to the observer. It is difficult to simulate the reentering into a harbour.

It is also known to project, onto a cylindrical screen, shadows obtained by means of a central projector and screens constituted by models; The latter are flat and cut up according to an outlineof the coast or of the possible to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above.

The observer may see on the screen several ships manoeuvring on theirown trajectories and even around him. He may move about a floating engine, whether moving or not, and come near it a minimal distance. It is obviously the same for an island. The said apparatus makes it also possible to simulate the effects of a current, of waves or of the wind. It may yet simulate rolling and pitching. The appearances of a trip at sea are complete. Any initiatives of the pilot (helm, ship velocity) are perfectly respected in their consequences.

Other results will appear from the following description. They are all obtained mainly through a'projection system controlled by a succession of special members.

The projection is obtained from especially recorded and arranged transparent slides. It is made on a cylindrical screen, otherwise known, in a lighted room. It will be possible to clearly understand the invention by means of the following description of a method of obtaining it including several variations given by way of non-restrictive examples. Appended hereto are diagrams illustrating the meaning of the various symbols used in the description and figures of drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a diagram giving the relative position of two ships N and NI;

FIG. 2 is another plan view of a diagram intended to give the definition of certain values;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a diagram similar to that of FIG. 2 but wherein the position of the ship N is given in relation to an island or a peninsula L which-has no course;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the special projection apparatus located above the bridge of the observer ship N, at the center of the cylindrical screen, with the connections of the said projection apparatus to a computer;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of another embodiment of slidecarrying disc;

FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of the mechanism for correcting the angle of projection in relation to the distance N N1;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view, partly in crosssection, of the disc support;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a detail of the disc driving mechanism taken at C of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of a mounting and animation device for the slides, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 13 isa plan view of a further embodiment of the device of FIG. 12, with the slide band;

FIG. 14 is a detail front view of a slide-carrying band;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are, respectively, a front and a leftward elevation view of a multiple-plate system with rolling andpitching simulation, and

FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-section view of the simulation room.

With particular reference to FIG. I, N identifies the observer ship, N1 the ship being observed, Nv Sv the North-South line coinciding with the OY axis, T the trajectory of N, V its instantaneous speed, T1 the true trajectory of N1 and V1 its instantaneous speed, Ta the apparent trajectory of N1 seen from N and V'l its relative speed with respect to N (obtained by working out the vectors V1 and V according to a known method). 0 is measured from CY and P from N coinciding with 0.

FIG. 2 gives the following values: Gi, the bearing of N] with respect to N (Gi 6 Cv); Cv, the true course of the ship N; ll, the inclination of N1 for an observer located at N (I1 Cvl 0) and Cvl, the true course of the ship N1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the manoeuvre desk of the observer ship N, on the navigation bridge located at the center of the cylinder screen, has a steering bar B and a speed control member S (speed selector, for example). There is provided, in the same room or in an auxiliary room, a helm bar B1 and a speed selector S1 of the first ship in sight. There may be several movable engines in sight of which the control gears are illustrated by B2, S2, etc... In order to facilitate explanation, there will first be considered the manoeuvre of a first sighted ship N1 in relation to the moving ship N. Gears B, S and B1, S1 actuate calculators combined to provide an auxiliary computer I with two essential informations: the

coordinates x and y of the ship N1 in relation to orthogonal axes OX and OY (OY being the true Northation of two shafts. It is easy to substitute therefor electrical values such as variable voltages.

The auxiliary computer 1 changes the values x and y into polar coordinates 6 and p, according to one of the already known methods (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The angular deviation is transmitted on the shaft 2. The distance N N, that is p, is measured by a voltage which is amplified and sent to its destination by a connection 3.

The shaft 2 drives a differential system 4 in which a shaft 5 rotates in keeping with the true course Cv of the ship N. It is easy to understand that the shaft 6 varies angularly as the bearing Gi 0 Cv. A shaft 7 driven by the shaft 2 drives a differential 8 that receives, through its shaft 9, the angular indication of the true course CvI, provided by an elementary computer of the ship Nl. Thus, shaft 10 rotates an amount Cvl 0, equals to II (inclination of NI for the observer located at N, according to FIG. 2). The data strictly provided by the connection 3 (p) and by the shafts 6 and 10 are electrically retransmitted to the three servo-motors 17, 21, and 22, controlling the rotation of the main members of the projection device of each ship in sight. The differentials 4 and 8 may be replaced by electronic devices computing (0 Cv) or (Cvl 0).

A projector 11, having a variable focal line, projects orienting the plate about WW according to the bearing Gi with respect to the ship N, then rotating the disc 18 until the slide corresponding to the angle 11 takes place in the projector 11 then adjusting the focal distance of the objective 15 corresponding to p. The first operation is accomplished by the motor 21, the second by the motor 22, the third one by the motor 17, the three motors being dependent from the auxiliary computer 1 according to previous explanations, summed up in FIG. 4.

The disc 18 is oriented by its motor 22, not continuously, but according to a principle similar to that ofcinematography. That is to say that at the instant where each of the successive slides comes rapidly into the prol5 jector, it stops during a brief moment which is a functhe slides 12 on a cylindrical screen 14 through its total I reflection prism 13. The diameter of the cylindrical screen 14 is about 20 meters, the drawing being reduced at this location. The light beam from prism 13 may either move up or down but it is always directed according to a same vertical plane passing through the axis WW of the cylindrical screen. The projector as sembly may rotate about this axis. Its variable focal line objective 15 allows an enlargement of l to 20, for instance. An image 16 having an apparent diameter of 0.12 m may, in such a case, be magnified to 2.40 m. According to this example, a ship having a length of 150 meters may be seen, with an inclination of 90 or 270, at distances varying from 12,500 to 625 meters with a cylindrical screen having 20 meters in diameter.

The motor 17, set by the auxiliary computer 1 in relation to the distance NNl p, adjusts the focal distance of the objective 15. At all times, the apparent diameter of the image 16 is therefore that of the ship NI actually seen from a variable distance p.

Mounting of the slides 12 may be obtained in several ways. In a first instance, a horizontal disc 18 rotates about its axis 19 borne by the same plate 20 that carries that projector 11, which plate 20 rotates about the cen tral axis WW of the screen (FIG. 10). A large number E of transparent slides 12, 180 for instance, is provided along the periphery of the disc 18 (FIGS. 6 and 7). They illustrate the ship Nl seen by an observer located on the bridge of the ship N, for angles 11 successively varying by e on a complete turn (equal to 2 in the case of I80 slides). rotating in clockwise direction from the positive portion of the polar radius p. These slides are obtained from successive pictures by turning around the ship N1 from e to e or from a model of the latter. The model may also be disposed on a divider plate, for the previous taking of pictures.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 4, it is then possible to represent immediately by projection, the ship N1 (in position defined by 0 and p) as it is seen by the pilot of ship N, by operating as follows:

tion of the speed of rotation of the disc. It is hidden when in motion. In this manner, if the disc 18 is rotated e by e, the observer on the ship N has the impression that the sighted ship N1 turns about itself. It makes a complete turn at the same time as the disc. One embodiment of this device is illustrated in FIGS. 6, l0 and 11. The toothed wheel 23 driven by the motor 22 carries a contact 24 (an electrically actuated elastic finger). At the same level as this finger 24, two metallic half rings 25 and 25a mounted on a carrier disc 26 are separated by a space corresponding to the angular spacing e of two successive slides. When the finger 24 touches one of the rings 25 or 250, the contact actuates one or the other of the ratchet systems 27 or 28 which causes fast rotation of the disc through an angle e at each impulse. The fast advance of system 27 (or 28) causes closure of a shutter 29 above the slide then in position. The next impulse will take place only if the contact finger 24 is again on one of the rings 25 or 25a. The position of the slides is eventually ensured by means of a spring pawl and ratchet device. The disc 18 is clamped by a washer 30 and a nut 31. The simulator has several transparent discs 18 corresponding to a great variety of actual ships. They may be reproduced in the same manner as photographic prints starting with an original negative disc. According to the embodiment of FIG. 8, the disc 18a has at least two rows of slides 12a and 12b. After one turn, there is a relative displacement of the projector and of the disc in order to use the second row of views (one complete turn around the ship is obtained by two turns of the disc). The motor 22 is accordingly adjusted. Another row may correspond to the projection of the ship seen at night.

The complete refraction prism 13 of which the projector is provided may pivot about a horizontal axis 32 correcting the angle of sight. As shown in FIG. 9, a cam 33 synchronized with the dependent motor 17 (focal distance) acts on a lever 34 and appropriately corrects the height of the image on the screen in relation to the closing in or moving away effect of the ship. Indeed, the angular distance a under which the water line of the ship N1 and the skyline are seen varies according to p.

according to a second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 14, the successive slides 12 are mounted on a band 35 in two rectilinear rows 36 and 37 each having F views of which the first ones 12c and 12a as well as the last ones l2e and 12f are strictly side by side. If the slide illustrates the ship N1 seen from behind (angle ll 0), the slides of row 36 will show it progressively rotating about itself showing its starboard side until the last slide 120 which shows it from the front where ll 180". From 12f to 12d, the views illustrate the ship manoeuvring successively from an angle of 180 to 360 (progressively showing its port side). When the ship makes one turn about itself, the slides move successively in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 14 from 120 to 12f between the projector 11a and the variable focal line objective 15 arranged horizontally (with motor 17 dependent on the values of p). The movement between the two rows 36 and 37 takes place either by automatic translation of the band 35, that is of the bobbins 38 and 39 over which the flexible band wids and unwinds, or by a vertical movement of the projector-objective set. The device responsible for the successive forward movements of the slides on the same row works by means of toothed wheels 40 and 41 rotating by impulses caused by the motor 22 working according to the angles [1. The intermittent drive may be identical to that described previously with respect to the contact fingers 24 and the half rings 25 and 25a. It may also be constructed with parts known in cinematography, with blinding shutter not shown in the drawings. The number of slides may be greater than that carried by a disc 18 thus refining the movement. The assembly is mounted on a plate 42 born by the plate and may rock around hinges 43 to correct the angle a between the skyline and the water line of the ship. As previously, the motor 17 drives a correction cam 33a.

According to a third embodiment, the band 35 only has I tinuous succession of coastlines.

Several plates corresponding to several ships N1, N2, etc... or to several small islands or portions of coastlines may be mounted on the same column 45 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. An articulation made up ofa ring 46 and a cross-piece 47 constituting a universal ball joint may be provided at the top of the column. The base of the column is capable of two alternating movements, one in the axis of the bridge, the other in a perpendicular direction simulating rolling and pitching. Two variable-speed and reversible-rotation dependent motors 48 and 49 respond to a predetermined program. The set of projection is thus animated by two rocking motions. The upper cross-piece 47 may carry the device for projecting the skyline and the clouds.

There are as many auxiliary computers 1 with differentials 4 and 8 as there are plates 20. When two ships N1 and N2 are on the same bearing, the farthest ship disappears automatically. A common device for the reading of electrical characteristics, measuring the bearings Gi and the polar radii p at 6 and 3, compares these different measures and causes either the disappearance of the image of the furthest object or the reinforcement of the luminous intensity of the closest one (this is the case of a ship standing before a coastline).

The relative coordinates x and y of each ship being sighted are obtained by the same set of analog, numerical or mechanical computers thay may be combined.

The lower part of FIG. 4 gives, by way of example, a diagram of an association of electro-mechanical computers, each being otherwise known. The computer 50 controlled by the helm B and the speed selector S give at 51 and 52 the instantaneous coordinates of the surface observer ship N as well as, at all times, the value of the angular speed of the variation of the true course Cv, at 5. The computer 53, identical to the first one, with the helm B1 and speed selector S1 gives at 54 and 55 the indications of the same nature relative to the first ship N1 being sighted. Similarly, for the second ship N2 etc... The computer 56, simulating the current in the area of the ship N, provides instantaneous corrections of the coordinates, with respect to the bottom of the sea, of the observer ship and of the ships being sighted.

It can easily be shown that x is equal to the difference between the abscissae thus obtained. Similarly, y is equal to the difference in corresponding ordinates. In the diagram of FIG. 4, these results are obtained by the differentials 57 to 60, assuming that the values of the abscissae and of the ordinates are expressed in angles of rotation of the shafts 51, 52, 54, 55, etc... Coupled to the computer 50, two cams 61 and 62 change the true course (thus the trajectory of the ship N) and the speed of the ship in relation to the direction of the wind U and of the true course Cv. Likewise, the cams 63 and 64 change the same elements as a function of the direction T of the waves and of the true course.

The computers of the observer ship and of the ships being sighted, which particularly determine at all times the angular speed in thevariation of the true course Cv, take into account the evolutive effect of the propellers and the effects of giration. They likewise take into account the resistance to speed changes. The coordinates of the ship N and of the ships being sighted (N1, N2...) may control one or several tracing tables 65.

A hemispherical dome 66, illustrated in FIG. 17, makes it possible to illustrate the sky. The bow or stem or a ship are projected on the screen 14 or illustrated by models.

I claim:

1. A device for simulating navigation, said device comprising:

a. a cylindrical screen for projecting images thereon,

said images simulating the position of observed objects relative to an observer,

b. a rotatable support plate,

0. a plurality of image means connected to said support plate and rotatable therewith,

d. image projecting means mounted on said support plate and rotatable therewith, said image projecting means comprising:

1. a light source connected to said support plate,

2. an adjustable focal line objective lens positioned for alignment with said light source, said objective lens supported by said support plate,

e. means for rotating said support plate for projecting images at various angles about the rotation axis of said rotatable support plate,

f. means for adjusting the magnification of said focal line objective lens thereby providing projected images of a variable size, and

' g. means for successively positioning different ones of said plurality of image means for projection by said aligned light source and objective lens, whereby different projected images may be displayed simulating different orientations of the observed object relative to the observer. 2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a. input means for varying l. the bearing of the projected image,

2. the size of the projected image, 3. the orientation of the projected image,

b. means connected to said variable bearing input means for controlling the rotational position of said support plate,

c. means connected to said variable size input means for controlling the magnification adjusting means of said objective lens, and

(1. means connected to said variable orientation input means for controlling the positioning means.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said light source is positioned on one side of said image means and said objective lens is positioned on the other side of said image means.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising, means for tilting the rotation axis of said rotatable support plate thereby projecting tilted images simulating rolling and pitching of objects.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said support plate is horizontal and rotatable about a vertical axis, said objective lens and said light source are aligned in a vertical direction and said apparatus further comprises a prism for reflecting said images in a generally horizontal direction.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5, including means for rotating said prism about a horizontal axis.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said support plate is horizontal and rotatable about a vertical axis and said objective lens and light source are aligned in a horizontal direction.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of support plates, each plate having a plurality of image means and associated light source and objective lens, said support plates rotatable about a common rotation axis.

9. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said image means comprises:

a. a rotatable disc,

b. a plurality of transparent slide means disposed on the periphery of said disc,

c. said positioning means comprising motor means for rotating said rotatable disc.

10. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said image means comprises:

a. a pair of spaced bobbins,

b. a band wound on said bobbins,

c. a first plurality of transparent slide means mounted in a first row on said band,

d. a second plurality of transparent slide means mounted in a second row on said band, and

e. means for rotating said bobbins to position various ones of said transparent slide means between said light source and said objective lens for projection onto said screen,

whereby various orientations of said images are displayed simulating various orientations of said observed object.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said image means further comprises an endless loop-like band having transparent slides mounted thereon.

12. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical screen extends substantially 360 about said projecting means. 

1. A device for simulating navigation, said device comprising: a. a cylindrical screen for projecting images thereon, said images simulating the position of observed objects relative to an observer, b. a rotatable support plate, c. a plurality of image means connected to said support plate and rotatable therewith, d. image projecting means mounted on said support plate and rotatable therewith, said image projecting means comprising:
 1. a light source connected to said support plate,
 2. an adjustable focal line objective lens positioned for alignment with said light source, said objective lens supported by said support plate, e. means for rotating said support plate for projecting images at various angles about the rotation axis of said rotatable support plate, f. means for adjusting the magnification of said focal line objective lens thereby providing projected images of a variable size, and g. means for successively positioning different ones of said plurality of image means for projection by said aligned light source and objective lens, whereby different projected images may be displayed simulating different orientations of the observed object relative to the observer.
 2. the size of the projected image,
 2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a. input means for varying
 2. an adjustable focal line objective lens positioned for alignment with said light source, said objective lens supported by said support plate, e. means for rotating said support plate for projecting images at various angles about the rotation axis of said rotatable support plate, f. means for adjusting the magnification of said focal line objective lens thereby providing projected images of a variable size, and g. means for successively positioning different ones of said plurality of image means for projection by said aligned light source and objective lens, whereby different projected images may be displayed simulating different orientations of the observed object relative to the observer.
 3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said light source is positioned on one side of said image means and said objective lens is positioned on the other side of said image means.
 3. the orientation of the projected image, b. means connected to said variable bearing input means for controlling the rotational position of said support plate, c. means connected to said variable size input means for controlling the magnification adjusting means of said objective lens, and d. means connected to said variable orientation input means for controlling the positioning means.
 4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising, means for tilting the rotation axis of said rotatable support plate thereby projecting tilted images simulating rollIng and pitching of objects.
 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said support plate is horizontal and rotatable about a vertical axis, said objective lens and said light source are aligned in a vertical direction and said apparatus further comprises a prism for reflecting said images in a generally horizontal direction.
 6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5, including means for rotating said prism about a horizontal axis.
 7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said support plate is horizontal and rotatable about a vertical axis and said objective lens and light source are aligned in a horizontal direction.
 8. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of support plates, each plate having a plurality of image means and associated light source and objective lens, said support plates rotatable about a common rotation axis.
 9. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said image means comprises: a. a rotatable disc, b. a plurality of transparent slide means disposed on the periphery of said disc, c. said positioning means comprising motor means for rotating said rotatable disc.
 10. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said image means comprises: a. a pair of spaced bobbins, b. a band wound on said bobbins, c. a first plurality of transparent slide means mounted in a first row on said band, d. a second plurality of transparent slide means mounted in a second row on said band, and e. means for rotating said bobbins to position various ones of said transparent slide means between said light source and said objective lens for projection onto said screen, whereby various orientations of said images are displayed simulating various orientations of said observed object.
 11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said image means further comprises an endless loop-like band having transparent slides mounted thereon.
 12. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical screen extends substantially 360* about said projecting means. 